The Great Sage Parasara said — O Brahmin! When the Satwa-guni planets (the Sun, the Moon and Jupiter) are predominant, the person born is Satwa guni and of good character. When Rajoguna (passion of love and pleasure) is predominant (that is, when Mercury and Venus are predominant), the person born is Rajoguni and intelligent. When the Tamo gun (attribute of darkness) is predominant (that is, when Mars and Saturn are predominant) the person born is stupid. When at the time of birth all the planets are of equal dominance the person has a mixture of all the attributes. The persons so born (creatures) are classified as Uttama (most excellent), Madhyama (of intermediate type), Adhama (despisable) and Udaseena (indifferent or neutral) in that order. Thus, there are four kinds of animate beings. I will relate their attributes which have been described by Narada and other sages.

उत्तमो मध्यमो नीच उदासीन इति क्रमात्‌ । तेषां गुणानहं वक्ष्ये नारदादिप्रभाषितान्‌ । ।4।। इन्हें क्रमशः उत्तम, मध्यम, अधम व उदासीन भी कहते हैं । अब मैं इन मानवभेदों के गुणों का स्पष्टीकरण करता हूँ ।